Heat exchanger



Oct. 14, 1958 R. F. ADAMS v 2,856,162

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Jan. 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI Oct. 14, 1958 R. F. ADAMS 2,856,162

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Jan. 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 14, 1958 R. F. ADAMS 2,856,162

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Jan. 1'7, 1956 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HEAT EXCHANGER Richard F. Adams, Goshen, Ind., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, East Alton, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application January 17,` 1956, Serial No. 559,552`

7` Claims'. (Cl`.-257l-244) This invention relates to a heat exchanger and more specifically to a pump, blower or fan heat exchanger unit.

It is an object of this invention to` provide a novel and improved tiuid moving device, particularly a centrifugal iluid moving device, with a heat exchanger of sturdy, corrosion resistant, economical construction. Another object is the provision of an impelled or centrifugal fluid heat exchanger device capable of either removing or imparting a considerable amount of heat to the iluid medium with high etliciency and thereafter distributing the affected medium desirably. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description and accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is an elevational side view partially in cross` section corresponding to a view on line I-I. of Figure 2 and showing one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevational view of the embodiment of Figure l including the parte. broken away; taken on line ll--ll of Figure l.;

Fig. 3 is an elevational side view showing another embodiment of this invention partially in cross section;

Fig. 4 is a semi-diagrammatic view in cross section taken on line lV-IV of Figure 3 Vincluding the parts broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view on a somewhat enlarged scale of a portion of the surface of a convolution of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a novel combination of primer mover, tluid impeller and heat exchanger adapted to accept the. impelled fluid on` one side and discharge it directionally on the other after desired heat exchange has been accomplished. This construction constitutes a unit capable of aiecting the heat content of the moving tluid in transit.

The present invention contemplates the manufacture of a heat exchanger shell or panel containing a great number of integral, but individually distinct heat exchanger uid tubes of relatively small` cross section, and also having openings in the panel between the tubes. The method involves providing a cavitated` panel from flat component sheets which, with intervening stop-Weld material ina pattern including parallel spaced stripes, have been unified as by rolling at sutiicient pressure except where prevented by thepattern and then distended, shaping the` panel to a suitable open-ended tubular shell by bending to a circular or spiral configuration, and` also slitting the bonded or web portion of the panel between the conduits without interrupting or puncturing the conduits. rlihe curvilinear heat exchanger shell provides confinement of the unaffected' Huid adapting it to desired heat exchange in circulation. The slits provide openings for the desired circulation of air or other fluid` medium from the interior of the shell to its exterior. Furthermore, the slitted bonded web portion between the parallel conduit portion is additionally shaped to form vanes which impart desired directionality and` turbulence to the air passing through the shell.

in the embodiment of Figures l and 2, the apparatus States Patet lill ICC

of this invention consists in general of an electric motor 1, its extended shaft 2, the fluid moving blades 3, and a surrounding casing 4 with uid outlets 11, and also a self-contained heat exchanger iluid passageway system 6 for circulation of Water, steam, refrigerant, or other suitable heat exchanger uid for affecting the gas or liquid medium impelled through outlets 1.1.

Casing t is a pressure unied panel made by the method of the type disclosed in U. S. 'Patent 2,690,002, issued September 28, 1954, to L. H. Grenell. This cas: ing is a web-like structure wherein the webs serve to not only connect the several tubes or passages. 8 into, a strong integral structure free from joints but also serve as heat dissipating or absorbing surfaces.

However, for the purpose of this embodiment of the invention the pressure welded panel is formed to a circular or curvilinear shape as shown in Figure 2 and the free ends of the panel are joined together in any suitable way as shown at 7'. Moreover, the hollow or conducting tube portions of the heat exchanger passage* way 6 are formed at one end of the cylinder into a gridwork consisting of parallel spaced passages 8 the ends of which are inter-connected at one end by an inlet header passageway 9 and at the other end by an outlet header passageway 10. Any suitable inlet tube 35 makes connection with inlet header passageway 9, while outlet tube 36 makes connection with the outlet header passage.- way lil. In between the web portion of the parallel cooling or heating passageways 8, the web portion of the panel is provided with openings 11 with directional vanes l2 adjacent each opening` and formed as an in-v tegral part of the panel or casing 4. This arrangement provides a circular array of openings lll in alternation with passages 8. One end of the cylinder adjacent. `the grid-work is open at 13 to form an intake for the.

unit. At the other end, the centrifugal panel 4 is solid and constitutes a flange 14 for mounting the panel on motor l. Thus, the major part of the casing 4 is utilized as a heat exchanger surface. On one side of the motor there is an extended shaft 1 projecting into the interior of the casing d and having mounted thereon the fluid impellers 3 in desired proximity with the passages 8 and the openings 11.

ln operation, the fluid to be moved is drawn in at the intake i3 and driven out of the discharge openings, it after being put 4into desired turbulence and directionality with respect to the heat exchanger fluid carrying passageways 8 by means of the directional vanes l2. These also impart directionality to the iluid so that a wide-spread and substantially uniform distribution is obtained.

ln the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 the unit is constituted of a motor l5 having opposite shafts 16 and 17, each carrying an impeller 18 and 19 respectively, and a surrounding heat exchanger casing 20 which as in the previous embodiment is an apertured pressure welded panel having dilated or uid pressure distended heat exchanger passageway 21 running circuitously through panel 20. However, in this embodiment as shown in Figure 4 the panel or casing 20 is convolutely wound in spiral form `so as to provide a great number of layers and consequently greatly increase the heat exchanger capacity of the unit. While the spiral form of panel 20 is shown, it will be understood that the heat exchanger casing 20 may consist of a number of concentric cylindrical panels iitting one Within another` and each having suitable inlet and outlet connections for theV heat exchanger fluid to `be circulated in the respective passageways ot` the panels constituting the casing. In this embodiment as shown in Figure 3 the heat ex.- changer circuit 21 is serpentine and includes a` number of heat exchange tubes or loops 2,2 which are in parallel with each other. Between the tubes, as in the previous embodiment, the webbing of the panel has suitable discharge openings 23. The desired turbulence and directionality is imparted to the fluid being moved by shaping each panel web portion adjacent the tubes of each loop at an oblique angle to the plane of tangency with the panel at the tubes 22. Thus, each of the heat exchanger tubes 22, in effect, is formed in a suitably sloped vane 24 disposed between the discharge openings 23. Panel has an inner axially extending end and a similarly extending outer end containing the inlet terminal and the outlet terminal 26 respectively of the fluid circuit 21. Here any suitable connection with the unit is made with a heater or cooler fluid source. Casing 20 is mounted in any suitable manner for support and bearing purposes together with motor 1S and the shaft extensions 16 and 17.

In operation impeller blades 18 and 19 draw air, for example, into the intake openings 28 and 29 (Figure 3) and drive it through the many discharge openings 23 of the panel 20 where desired turbulence and directionality is imparted. The temperature of the air is thus desirably raised or lowered during its passage through the encasing panel 20. l

In the enlarged view of Figure 5, the surface structure of the sheet of metal forming the convolutions of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 is shown in a flat plane in somewhat greater detail and clarity.

Preparation of the structure of casing 4 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and the structure of the casing 20 of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 is done generally in accordance with the method of aforementioned U. S. Patent No. 2,690,002 by rolling together a pair of component, initially separate sheets with the passageway pattern of weld preventative therebetween. All are rolled at least to a suitable minimum reduction in thickness. This produces a metal structure having at least a strong metallurgical type of bond between the component sheets at all interfacial areas not initially protected by weld-preventing material and finally subjected to inflation. Upon completion of such pressure unification, under suitable conditions, practically no interface between the initial component sheets of metal such as copper, aluminum, steel and the like, or their alloys, is discernible; but in any event an excellent bond is obtained around the pattern. Consequently, the resultant panel may be manipulated in the same manner as a single sheet initially rolled to the same thickness as the panel, but with the advantage of being inflatable. It will be appreciated that this hollow conduit or heat exchange structure is free from joints having extraneous bonding material at which corrosion ordinarily begins.

The bonded web areas of the panels between the parallel spaced liquid conduits are perforated as by punching or slitting, preferably after inflation, and the web of each panel is at the same time or afterward folded, drawn or otherwise deformed to provide a vane. Thus, the webhing between passageways 8 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 is slit to make opening 11 and the slit web is shaped to form vanes 12. Similarly the webbing between passageways 22 of Figures 3, 4 and 5 is slit to make openings 23 and there are formed vanes 24 adjacent the openings 23. Each of the casings 4 and 20 is then shaped to provide the curvilinear shell configuration shown for the particular embodiment.

.From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will readily understand not only the construction of the device of this invention but will also appreciate that it accomplishes the objects of the invention. The construction of the unit is such that it can be readily installed `and can be operated without need for frequent repair. Furthermore, the construction is such that the unit is relatively free from joints and extraneous fastening materials so that it is adapted to resist corrosion even with highly corrosive atmospheres or liquids. The unit is adapted for ecient vheat exchange and distribution.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to embodiments now believed to be more advantageous, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

l. A heat exchanger for a centrifugalfiuid medium comprising a tube-shaped panel at least one end of which is shaped to surround a central opening for intake of said medium, said panel having distended double-walled sec tions forming the walls of interconnected internal heat exchange uid passageway portions including some extending longitudinally and spaced from each other around the circumference of said panel, web section integral with said double-walled sections, and at least one transfer opening through the panel in each of the undistended web sections `between said passageway portions, said transfer openings at the edge thereof being provided with vanes integral with said web sections to constrain said fluid medium to pass tangentially and outwardly through said panel in more ecient heat exchange relationship with said web sections and passageway portions.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the panel is convolutely wound to provide a plurality of layers of the panel.

3. A heat exchanger for a centrifugal fluid medium comprising a plurality of superposed tubular sheet panels coaxially disposed in layers around a central space having at least at one end an opening for intake of said medium, means in said space for impelling said medium, said panels having distended double-walled sections forming the walls of interconnected internal heat exchange Huid passageway portions at least some of which extend longitudinally and are spaced from each other around the tubular plane of each of said panels and at least one' transfer opening through each panel in each of the undistended web sections, between said passageway portions, each panel adjacent said transfer openings being bent to constrain said fluid medium to pass tangentially and outwardly through said panel in heat exchange relationship with said passageway portions.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the section of the panel containing the spaced passageway portions is turned at an angle to the adjacent similar sections of the panel.

5. A heat exchanger for a centrifugal uid medium comprising a cylindrical sheet metal panel around a central space one end of which has an opening for intake for said medium, said panel having distended doublewalled sections forming the walls of interconnected internal heat exchange fluid passageway portions some of which extend longitudinally and are circumferentially spaced from each other in the curvilinear plane of said panel, said panel having a transfer opening in each of the undistended web sections between said passageway portions, one side of said web sections adjacent each of said transfer openings being bent at an angle to said web section to form a vane for constraining said impelled first fluid medium to pass spirally in a predetermined direction through said panel between each of said vanes and corresponding passageway portion in heat exchange relationship with the fluid in said passageway portions.

6. A heat exchanger for a centrifugal fluid medium comprising a curvilinear sheet metal panel convolutely wound upon itself to. provide a plurality of superposed layers around a central space both ends of which have an opening for intake of said medium, said panel having distended double-walled sections forming the walls of interconnected internal heat exchange fluid passageway` portions some of which extend longitudinally and are circumferentially spaced from each other in the curvilinearv plane of said panel and at least one transfer opening through the panel in each of the undistended web sections between said spaced passageway portions, said web sections adjacent said transfer openings being turned to 'form vanes to constrain said uid medium to spiral outwardly through said panel in heat exchange relationship with said web sections and passageway portions, and a pair of uid impellers disposed in said central space for drawing said medium in through said end openings and discharging said medium outwardly through the transfer openings of said panel.

7. A heat exchanger for a centrifugal uid medium comprising at least one annular panel at least one end of which is shaped to surround a central opening for intake of said medium, said panel having distended doublewalled sections forming the walls of interconnected internal heat exchange Huid passageway portions extending in spaced relationship with respect to each other around the circumference of said panel, undistended web sections between said passageway portions integral therewith, and

at least one transfer opening through the panel in each of said web sections, said transfer openings at the edges thereof having vanes integral with said web sections to constrain said uid medium to pass tangentially and outwardly with respect to said panel in eicient heat exchange relationship with said web sections and passageway portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,538 Kucher Oct. 20, 1931 1,893,650 Modine Ian. 10, 1933 2,119,140 Payne May 31, 1938 2,138,333 Martin Nov. 29, 1938 2,646,258 Freer July 21, 1953 2,654,529 Smith Oct. 6, 1953 2,662,748 Huber Dec. 15, 1953 2,697,428 Norman et a1 Dec. 21, 1954 2,759,247 Grenell et al Aug. 21, 1956 2,779,173 Wurtz Jan. 29, 1957 

